Machine for bending timber



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1'. '-W. RANKE & W.-YERGENS.

MACHINE FOR BBND-ING TIMBER. No. 447,202. Patented Feb. 24,1891.

TNE nonms virus 00,, morwumo, WASNINGTON, o. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-+Sheet 2. W. RANKE & W. YERGENS. MACHINE FOR BENDING TIMBER Patented Feb. 24, 1891.

WITNESSES:

3 Sheets-Sheet 3. W. RANKE 8: W. YERGENS. MACHINE FOR BENDING TIMBER.

No. 447,202. Patentedf'eb. 24, 1891.

(No Model.)

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amine-mes g'wuewtow $51 M amwgf jW/M i NITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

\VILLIAM RANKE AND VILL'IAM YERGENS, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

MACHINE FOR BENDI NG TIMBER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,202, dated February 24, 1891.

I Application filed'July 24,1890. Serial No. 359,750- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM RANKE and WILLIAM YERGENS, citizens of the United.

States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county chines for Bending Timber; and We do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the artto which it I erated by eccentrics D on a horizontal shaft appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in machines for bending timberof that class in which the timber is bent when softened by steam against a mold-block and clamped until in proper condition to preserve its shape.

The invention has for its objects to bend the timber with a more even and rapid pressure than heretofore, to prevent the breakage of the timber during the operation of bending, and to leave the timber smoother and more elastic when bent.

Our invention is applicable to the bending of timber of various descriptions; but in the present instance it is represented as applied to the bending of carriage or buggy bows.

.plan view showing the metallic plates and lower portion of the bending mechanism. Fig. 6 represents a side elevation of one of said metallic plates and bending-lever. Fig. 7 represents a detached view of a portion of the elevating and holding devices. Fig. 8

indicates a longitudinal sectional view of a clamp employed to secure the bending-levers when the timber is bent. Fig. 9 represents a side elevation of said lever. Fig. 10 represents a vertical sectional view of a portion of the machine, taken on the line y y ofFig. 1; and Fig. 11 represents a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 00 a; of Fig. 1.

The letter A indicates the frame of the majchine, consisting of four substantial legs, the

rear ones being extended above the table of the machine and connected by a cross-beam B at the top, and the frontones terminating at a suitable height to support the table when down.

The table (indicated by the letter B) rests upon blocks 0, which move vertically in grooves in the legs of the frame, and are opstud H at the lower edge of the board 1, se .cured to the reacof the frame.

The ratchet has fastened to it' a lever K, by means of which it may be turned to elevate the table, the table being held when elevated by the pawl and ratchet.

The letter M indicates four metallic plates, two located at each side of the table and embracing the sides thereof. The said plates are connected to blocks N, which rest and are adapted to move upon the table, and are connected by means of a right-and-left screw P, working in nuts R, set in recesses in the blocks in such manner that the plates may be adjusted to and from each other toadapt the machine to bending bows of different sizes. The plates at their outer ends are provided with curved slots S. Between each pair of plates is located a pressure lever or arm T, having fulcrum-pins U bearing in the said slots S. These levers on their inner sides are beveled from a point a to b, and from thence the sides are extended forward to their extremities in aplane parallel to their outer sides.

To the beveled or inclined parts of each of the uprights is secured the bent end of a curved flexible metallic strap V, the other end of which is secured to the top of the blocks NN at the points 0 d. The upper ends of the levers have connected to them the ropes, WV, passing over pulleys journaled between the uprights of the frame and down over a drum, as usual, to which power is applied to eifect the pressure upon the ends of the tim her to be bent, said drum not being shown in the drawings, as it forms no part of the invention.

Theletter X indicates the mold-block,which is made of brass, in two parts, connected by means of a right-and-left screw Y, having a central nut Z, by which it may be turned to adjust the parts of the block, so as to bend bows of different sizes.

The parts of the mold-block are provided with dovetailed splines at one side, which set in a dovetailed groove in a plate A, secured to a transverse beam A located at one side of the frame, so that they may be moved to and from each other for the purpose of adjustment. The outward ends of the parts of the mold-block are curved to correspond to the curve to be given to the bow when bent and clamped against it.

The letter 1' indicates two gage or clamp rods extending through openings in the molds into recesses in the plates M, to hold the same in their proper relative positions when clamped up.

The letter B indicates two connected headblocks having recesses on their lower sides, which rest upon cross-beams 0, setting in similar recesses in the mold-blocks.

The above-mentioned parts, with the exception of the slotted plates and the flexible metallic straps V, are common to this class of machines, and need not be further ment-ioned in detail.

The letter D indicates a metallic strap, before alluded to, which is bent with the timher from which the bow is formed during its formation. The said strap consists of a flat strip of metal havingsecured at its ends headblocks E, beveled to correspond with the beveled and flat portions of the inner sides of the pressure-levers before mentioned. The said head-blocks are provided with lugs E 011 each side, which may be engaged by the hooked ends of a clamp F to clamp the timber when fully bent.

The clamp is constructed in two parts, one having a bearing for a disk G, to which is attached a lever II, and the other a series of openings 1 one of which may be engaged by a pin K on the disk to tighten the clamp,the series rendering the clamp adjustable.

The head-blocks E are provided with confining-bloeks L, which bind the ends of the bow to be bent and prevent its displacement.

The operation of our improved machine is as follows: The parts being in position, as shown in Fig. 2, with the pressure levers or arms resting horizontally upon the table and the table depressed, the strap D is placed with the beveled portions of its head-blocks against and resting upon the beveled portions of pressing-levers, and the Hat sides of the head-blocks and inner flat sides of the lovers in contact. In this position the fulcrum-pins of the pressure-levers will be at the inner ends of the slots of the plates. The timber to be bent, properly steamed, is then placed upon the strap, with its ends between and abutting against the head-blocks E. The

table is then elevated by turning the shaft E by the lever operating the eccentrics D and raising the blocks C,and with them the table, the table when raised being held by the pawl-and-ratchet disk, clamping the strap D and timber between the mold and bed-block. Draft is then brought upon the ropes IV, elevating the pressing-levers until they assume a vertical position, bending the strap D and the timber (indicated by the letter D around the curved portions of the mold-block and against the ends of the head-blocks. The clamp F is then applied to the lugs on the head-blocks E of the strap D and tightened up, and the parts of the machine are maintained in this position until the timber is in condition to return to shape.

It will be seen that the parts of the machine which directly effect the bending are always in contact with the timber, following it up as the operation of ben'din g eontinues',thus bend ing evenly and absolutely preventing breakage, as the flexible straps connecting the pressing-levers and bed-block and the detachable flexible strap always support the timber during the bending operation.

Having thus described our invention,what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for bending timber, the combination, with the table thereof, of the slotted plates embracing its sides and the blocks to which said plates are secured, the right-and-left screw connecting said blocks, and the pressure-levers having theirfulcrumpins bcarin g in the slots in said plates, whereby the levers are caused to follow the timber as they are elevated, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for bending timber, the combination, with the tablet hereof, of the slotted plates embracing its sides, the block to which said plates are secured, the right-andleft screw connecting said blocks, the pressurelevers having their fulcrum-pins bearing in the slots in said plates, the flexible straps connecting the levers and the blocks to which the plates are attached,and the flexible strap having head'blocks adapted to engage the levers and lugs to engage the ends of the timber and hold it in place, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as shown and described.

3. In a machine for bending timber, the combination, with the table thereof, of the slot ted plates embracing its sides, the blocks to which said plates are secured, the right-andleft screw con necting said blocks, the pressurelevers having their fulcrum-pins bearing in the slots in said plates, the flexible straps connecting the levers and the blocks to which the plates are attached, and the flexible strap having head-blocks adapted to engage the levers, and lugs to engage the ends of the timber and hold it in place, and the adjustable moldblocks, and clamping devices for holding the IIS scribed, whereby the movement of the pressure-levers is controlled by the curved slots, so as to produce an even pressure upon the timber being bent.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM RANKE. WVILLIAM YERGENS.

\Vitnesses:

J. CHARLES KRAUHS, HENRY WIEBKE. 

